I posted this an another thread but it can't hurt to put if front & center...
:cheers:
From Motorcyclist Magazine...August 2006
1. Assume you're invisible.
2. Be considerate.
3. Dress for the crash, not the pool or the prom.
4. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
5. Leave your ego at home-The only people who really care if you were faster on the freeway will be the officer and the judge.
6. Pay Attention.
7. Mirrors only show you part of the picture.
8. Be patient
9. Watch your closing speed-Passing cars at twice their speed or changing lanes to shoot past a row of stopped cars is just asking for trouble.
10. Beware the verge and the merge.
11. Left-turning cars remain the leading killer of motorcyclists.
12. Beware of cars running traffic lights.
13. Check your mirrors
14. Mind the gap-One second's worth of distance per 10 mph is the old rule of thumb. Better still; scan the next 12 seconds ahead for potential trouble.
15. Beware of tuner cars-They're quick and their drivers tend to be aggressive.
16. Excessive entrance speed hurts.
17. Don't trust that deer whistle.
18. Learn to use both brakes.
19. Keep the front brake covered-always.-Save a single second of reaction time at 60 mph and you can stop 88 feet shorter. Think about that.
20. Look where you want to go.
21. Keep your eyes moving.
22. Think before you act.-Careful whipping around that Camry going 7 mph in a 25 mph zone or you could end up with your head in the driver's side door when he turns into the driveway right in front of you.
23. Raise your gaze-It's too late to do anything about the 20 feet immediately in front of your fender, so scan the road far enough ahead to see trouble and change trajectory.
24. Get your mind right in the driveway-Most accidents happen during the first 15 minutes of a ride, below 40mph, near an intersection or driveway.
25. Come to a full stop at that next stop sign.
26. Never dive into a gap in stalled traffic.
27. Don't saddle up more than you can handle-If you weigh 95 pounds, avoid that 795-pound cruiser. If you're 5-foot-5, forget those towering adventure-tourers.
28. Watch for car doors opening in traffic.
29. Don't get in an intersection rut-Watch for a two-way stop after a string of four-way intersections.
30. Stay in your comfort zone when you're with a group-Riding over your head is a good way to end up in the ditch.
31. Give your eyes some time to adjust-A minute or two of low light heading from a well-lighted garage onto dark streets is a good thing.
32. Master the slow U-turn-practice.
33. Who put a stop sign at the top of this hill?-Don't panic. Use the rear brake to keep from rolling back down. Use Mr. Throttle and Mr. Clutch normally-and smoothly-to pull away.
34. If it looks slippery, assume it is.
35. Bang! A blowout! Now what?-No sudden moves. The motorcycle isn't happy, so be prepared to apply a little calming muscle to maintain course. Ease back the throttle, brake gingerly with the good wheel and pull over very smoothly to the shoulder. Big sigh.
36. Drops on the faceshield?-Lightly misted pavement can be slipperier than when it's been rinsed by a downpour. Apply maximum level concentration, caution and smoothness.
37. Emotions in check?-Take inventory every time you saddle up.
38. Wear good gear.
39. Leave the IPOD at home.
40. Learn to swerve.-Be able to do two tight turns in quick succession. Practice till it becomes a reflex.
41. Be smooth at low speeds.
42. Flashing is good for you-Easy taps on the pedal or lever before stopping makes your brake light more eye-catching to trailing traffic.
43. Intersections are scary, so hedge your bets.-Put another vehicle between your bike and the possibility of someone running the stop sign/light and you cut your chances of getting nailed in half.
44. Tune your peripheral vision.
45. All alone at a light that wont turn green?-Put as much of the bike directly above the sensor wire or try putting the kick stand down directly on the wire.
46. Everything is harder to see after dark.
47. Don't troll next to-or right behind-Mr. Peterbilt.
48. Take the panic out of panic stops. Develop an intimate relationship with your front brake. Seek out some safe open pavement. Starting slowly, find that fine line between maximum braking and a locked wheel, and then do it again, and again.
49. Make your tires right-Check them for spot on pressure and any wear and tear.
50. Take a deep breath-Count to 10. Forgetting some clown's 80-mph indiscretion beats running the risk of ruining your live, or ending it.
Excellent! :thumb:
Just saw this in a magazine today, good list.
Great post!
Should be made into a sticky
Thats good stuff. :thumb:
Should # 19 be 8 feet shorter not 88, but other wise good rules for the road on the bike and most of them for the cage too.
That's pretty close to what was posted in cycle world this/last month :thumb:
60 miles and hour, you are traveling 1 mile a minute. Divide 5280 by 60 = 88 feet per second.
ceek
Quote from: Ceek on August 05, 2006, 12:42:02 PM
60 miles and hour, you are traveling 1 mile a minute. Divide 5280 by 60 = 88 feet per second.
ceek
Yeah OK, that makes sense, :bowdown:
I live in a big time tourist city so I always keep two fingers hanging over the front brake, two over the clutch, and toes near the rear, and I'm used to trying to stop on a dime, I don't really know what the heck I was thinking.
Nine times out of ten I'd have to say going around is better than a panic stop. My two cents.
As for the swerve every ride home I have these three really tightly grouped concrete patches, all very small.
The speed limit is like 35, and at that speed going between them means that you HAVE TO BE very sharp very very very.
When I got to doing that every day perfect i felt a lot better about my bike.
45. All alone at a light that wont turn green?-Put as much of the bike directly above the sensor wire or try putting the kick stand down directly on the wire.
Does nobody else just run these? Treat it like a stop sign?
Yep!
I go for the green light on the straight and flip a U-turn.
Quote from: Chris_B on August 05, 2006, 11:37:43 PM
45. All alone at a light that wont turn green?-Put as much of the bike directly above the sensor wire or try putting the kick stand down directly on the wire.
Does nobody else just run these? Treat it like a stop sign?
I've heard that a 8-12 ounce magnet under the frame helps this problem a lot. Thankfully I have not encountered this problem around here, so I have not tested this theory.
Bump.
This should be made into a sticky IMO
Yes, another vote here to make this a sticky.
The best tip,
Dress for the crash, not for the prom!
the panic stop practice advice (esp. front brake) is definitely important... as well as the swerving. After my crash I concluded I had done the best I could (couldn't swerve--traffic blocked me), although it was on misted-wet and oily freeway, but I did "nurse" the brakes down until I impacted at a reasonable speed. But stopping short would have been SOOOOOOO much better. Fark.
The tuner car, think about that one, young kud in a quick car!
Thanks for posting this list. It is excellent for everyone who rides!
Simon
sticky, sticky, sticky--make it so.
Chilly
Good article, I read it back when it came out. Everyone should check it. :thumb:
Quote from: Chilly Willy on October 24, 2006, 10:54:51 AM
sticky, sticky, sticky--make it so.
Chilly
one more vote :thumb:
yes... make me immortal
Quote from: l3uddha on October 24, 2006, 03:25:32 PM
yes... make me immortal
My vote too, I loved this article.
LET IT BE SO!
sticky? I don't think it's sticky material. Half the "tips" are redundant (like 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 33, 34, 43, and 44 for example...then there's like 13 gear ones that all say the same thing)...half the remainder are common f%$king sense like drive defensively...and the rest are flat f%$king stupid...like 46. Everything is harder to see after dark? No shaZam! dillweed.
I can see this list racking up the saved lives.
Mak has something up his butt as usual...
you gotta remember that the tips are not common sense to everyone.
everyone is an ignorant schmuck when they first start out riding.
sticky sticky sticky
Mak, you have a point, but at the same time, so does l3, there are a lot of smucks out there, just look at all the 18 year old kids on sportbikes with no gear racing in downtown... not that there are any in this forum per-say, but still nice to keep these points in mind.
In the words of Snoop Dogg (not a fan, but here goes) - STICKY ICKY ICKY!!
I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but this would be a good sticky... :thumb:
Quote from: WildBlue on October 25, 2006, 12:16:59 PM
I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but this would be a good sticky... :thumb:
Good Point. BUMP
One thing that goes with the being invisible tip is to play the 'how are they going to kill me game'. While you're cruising allong, think about all the ways that everyone could kill you and then figure out what to do in each of those situations. If you don't have an out for every situation, adjust your riding, lane position, following distance etc so that you do have an out.
Since the traffic situation is constantly changing you constantly have to revise your course of action. It at least keep you entertained since you don't have a radio, and as a bonus it may keep you alive :cheers:
Oh yeah, and be really carefull (or preferably don't ride) in the city arround closing time since everyone is loaded. :thumb:
Ditto,
In the city for sure, any time after 7:00 should be considered the "look out for drunk drivers" practice time. There are all the people leaving the happy hours, followed by the persistent drinkers, followed by the students and other late night drinkers.
Quote from: ducati_nolan on October 25, 2006, 12:32:49 PM
, and as a bonus it may keep you alive :cheers:
That's always a plus in my book!
MSF teaches to always look out for the 'what if's', you always do have to assume that the driver is going to possibly do the stupidest thing at the most inappropriate time for you. Damn Cagers :2guns:
I'll take any advice that helps keep me vertical and breathing!
Quote from: rob1bike on October 25, 2006, 07:19:32 PM
I'll take any advice that helps keep me vertical and breathing!
Vertical and above ground... 'The World's Fastest Indian' - 2006
Close enough though.. :thumb:
Your like an indian? Or like an indian? Is that like a virgin? A indian virgin? :)
Quote from: rob1bike on October 25, 2006, 07:30:13 PM
Your like an indian? Or like an indian? Is that like a virgin? A indian virgin? :)
YOUR TRYING TO CONFUSE!! I take it you haven't see the movie "The World's Fastest Indian"? Rent it and then it'll make sense... :laugh: indian virgin......
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :thumb:
Oops! :o
Whooo hooo ... its now a sticky ... OK now I think I should actually read it :thumb:
Cool.
Srinath.
thank you Srinath :thumb:
Thanx for the sticky!
Its gots some good points, if it helps just one person than yahoo! Its worth it!
wow, these are great for a beginner like me. thx.
re: lane position
Ive read or heard sometimes that ppl tend to stick to the middle no matter what "to protect your lane". However on streets in general and especially on the fwy I often ride dramatically to one side: on a fast surface street I ride near the center of the street if I have space around me, on the fwy I sometimes ride near the shoulder if I'm in the side lanes, especially when passing, so if a car veers into my lane I have a little extra space. Doesn't seem like this necessarily makes me less visible.
The whole "protecting your lane" thing sounds like the hardheaded bicyclists who ride in the middle of a lane (sometimes slower than traffic), this happens often in Portland. Nothing wrong with that, but it aggravates cars. I rode a bicycle for many years in town here and would ride guerrilla style, going on sidewalks, on either shoulder, etc. Seems like a more prudent option.
As far as mental things too, I try to think of my GS as a bicycle that can go perilously fast, cause basically that's all it is.
Quote from: indywar360 on October 30, 2006, 06:15:40 PM
The whole "protecting your lane" thing sounds like the hardheaded bicyclists who ride in the middle of a lane (sometimes slower than traffic), this happens often in Portland. Nothing wrong with that, but it aggravates cars. I rode a bicycle for many years in town here and would ride guerrilla style, going on sidewalks, on either shoulder, etc. Seems like a more prudent option.
As far as mental things too, I try to think of my GS as a bicycle that can go perilously fast, cause basically that's all it is.
I disagree, motorcyclists have as much a legal right to the road as any car, truck or suv. The entire area of the lane around a motorcycle is an area that shouldn't be intruded by any other vehicle.... keeping the middle of your lane keeps you visible, and using lane position to your advantage while passing helps keep you safe. Sadly idiodic people in cars will oftentimes cut you short or take part of your lane, just because you aren't taking it, but this can create dangerous situations, so it is always looked upon as smart to keep as much of your lane for yourself as possible, even if that means keeping to one side to make your PRESENCE clear.
I dont mean I ride around being deferential to other vehicles and surrendering my space. That's not like me. 8) I can even be an @$$hole when it comes to bad drivers. :icon_mrgreen: But if there's a semi facing me in a turn lane ahead hell yeah I'm going to the right side of my lane.
Middle, left, right, it doesn't matter. You need to position yourself where ever it's most safe for you at that moment. Remember angles. If you've got the quick stop mastered, you know that 40-0 is a long stretch of space. Proper lane positioning can make the difference between you running into an obsticle, or going around it. It can make the difference between you getting side swiped, and changing lanes to avoid the collision. Always leave yourself an out.
Quote from: Jarrett on October 31, 2006, 03:31:02 AM
Middle, left, right, it doesn't matter. You need to position yourself where ever it's most safe for you at that moment. Remember angles. If you've got the quick stop mastered, you know that 40-0 is a long stretch of space. Proper lane positioning can make the difference between you running into an obsticle, or going around it. It can make the difference between you getting side swiped, and changing lanes to avoid the collision. Always leave yourself an out.
EXACTLY :thumb:
I sometimes "weave" from side to side IN my lane. I'm more noticable, and stupid cagers (like the one today) won't wanna try anything as often.
I was riding to work, when this Buddha Loves You in a white jeep wrangler decides to cut me off, 'cause I was in the middle of my lane. I had to apply the brakes hard. A coupe blocks later, she was tailgating another car, so I was able to pass on another lane. She swerved into my lane right behind me and started tailgating. I could move to either side, so I stayed put in the lane, but I did slow down a bit, just in case she did something stupid (I would have pulenty of space in front to accelerate).
She was applying the horn consistantly for a good two miles. At the end, right before I pulled over and told a cop, I turned around and blew her a kiss. :icon_twisted:
motorcyclists should be able to carry a shotgun and use it to defend themselves from/to pwn motorists, a la Terminator 2.
Quote from: indywar360 on November 02, 2006, 01:17:06 AM
motorcyclists should be able to carry a shotgun and use it to defend themselves from/to pwn motorists, a la Terminator 2.
I agree, my Mossburg would be very handy for that :thumb:
<--First post here guys so bear with the newbie, OK. Although I like the idea of the shotgun, I was always told it's not a good idea to ride the center of the lane all the time just for the simple fact that it is where almost all of the oil and grease that falls from the 4-wheelers hits the middle of the lane. Thus making it slick even when dry. Being a gearhead, I kinda agree with that. Being a newbie to the motorcycle thing, I am glad someone put these tips and tricks up. It was pretty informative for us dummies that don't know any better yet.
Damien
Quote from: damiencovington on December 02, 2006, 10:00:40 AM
<--First post here guys so bear with the newbie, OK. Although I like the idea of the shotgun, I was always told it's not a good idea to ride the center of the lane all the time just for the simple fact that it is where almost all of the oil and grease that falls from the 4-wheelers hits the middle of the lane. Thus making it slick even when dry.
Damien
Maybe true... but here in Portland the middle is currently scoured clean by gazillions of buckets of rainfall.
Although the tracks of the lane are good for riding over crosswalk "paint" here, which for some reason is now like 5 inches high in the middle, and for avoiding murderously deep manhole covers (close-in SE/NE) which haven't been updated in the last 4 inches of asphalt.
Welcome, Damien!
Another thing to consider in lane position is making sure you are in people's mirrors. When I approach a car in another lane, let's just say I'm passing on the left (overtaking), I move to the right side of my lane so that I may position myself in their mirror (so in the case they actually look in their mirror, they might see me), and then move to the left of my lane when I am parallel with their rear bumper (actually, a little earlier than that). It gives me space for reaction time, space for a potential splitting motorcycle that I didn't see behind me, and it doesn't crowd the driver (out of coutesy (and how would you like it if a motorcyclist rode past your window this close?)).
^I just drop two gear and make sure they hear me before I move.
Quote from: makenzie71 on December 28, 2006, 11:19:00 PM
^I just drop two gear and make sure they hear me before I move.
My opponent in my last accident was a deaf woman.
If they're deaf then I pass them at triple digit speeds so that if they f%$k me up I'll die...because if I don't I'll kill the Buddha Loves You.
I realise that the vast majority of posters here are from the USA, but here in England,
I always try to ride so that I can see the eyes of the driver of the car in front through
his rear view mirror, (OK, I try to be the vehicle in front, but that's not always possible)
because if I can see his eyes, I know that he can see me.
Quote from: Skyryder on January 16, 2007, 12:42:57 PM
because if I can see his eyes, I know that he can see me.
Don't rely on this. I've had drivers look me in the eye and then try to kill me (by going ahead and making that left turn in front of me). Seriously...it's VERY possible for cagers to look you right in the eyeball and not see you.... :cookoo:
Yeah, they look right at you and somehow still pull out, I don't know if it is the "only a bike" syndrome or they just don't see you. Eye contact is good, but be very wary.
Incidently the instructors and trainers here teach "Centre of the lane" as the normal riding position, DOMINATE the lane is the buzzword.
I realized, if you smell a skunk, that probably means there's gonna be a dead skunk popping out from between the tires underneath the car in front of you. First time I almost went right over one, now whenever I smell one I give myself a huge gap with the car in front and ride directly behind one of his/her tires (figure he/she wont be stupid enough to actually squash it with their tire).
QuoteI realized, if you smell a skunk, that probably means there's gonna be a dead skunk popping out from between the tires underneath the car in front of you.
I cant figure out this is a figure of speech, but i would imagine running over a skunk would suck. More than any other small mammal, cos it would probably smell terrible.
What I learned the other day, after I very disingeniously dumped my bike on a sharp turn(front brake; yes, I am a retard, but we have to learn somewhere) , is that dressing for the ride is damn good advice. The small abrasions on my knee are fine, (as is the f%$king dent in my tank) but it could have been worse, very easily. I wasnt wearing leathers, only boots. My brand new boots now have a piece sandpapered off 'em, and i have toes still. I was lucky, and i plan to be lucky again, but im certainly not relying on it.
So Im having a jacket made for me as soon as I can afford it (slightly OT, but is armour totally neccesary or is padding OK? opinions if anyone minds?) and Im doing an advanced riders course ASAP.
I rode over a dead fox on a honda cbr 125cc , i think my bmx has wider tires , i hit it about 40 , and sort of hopped up , scarey as u like , there was bits of fox on it ...
Rough
oh and yea , leather is sorted , not plastic , i have padding in mine , makes me feel all big and strong , does make u seem bigger as well , so more visable lol
this is good stuff for everybody, another from deep in the archives.